First...we DO NOT want our eggs to look like these!!! Old things just fascinate me so I had to share this photo of Dinosaur eggs...cool huh?
Note for the Chazman: Nooooo, mommie did not walk the earth at the same time as the dinosaurs!!
The very first thing you need to know is how to hold the egg...yes yes I know you place it in your hand and hold it...well...that's only part of it. Eggs are very fragile yet at the same time do have a bit of strength and you don't want to have to battle with one and end up cracking it before you even get started. Always hold the egg
lengthwise....this puts it and you in a position where the next steps should give you the results you want and NEED.
Let's get started...shall we:
1. Use room temp eggs...this makes the insides less stiff and much easier to remove. White eggs are good but brown eggs (yard eggs) are a bit stronger.
2. Make a hole with a needle/hat pin. (
Yeah...most don't even know what a hat pin is but my teacher was 70 at the time and that's what she used) You will need to make a hole on each end and try to line them up..makes it so much easier when blowing the insides out. This step is a little harder than it sounds. Like I said in the beginning...eggs=fragile yet strong. I use a tacking needle....it has a larger tip on it and is T-shaped on the top. I can get a better grip on it and slowly twist it in a circular motion until the tiny hole appears. A friend gave me a very good tip on this part...heat needle..it makes it a bit easier. DO NOT rush in
doing this step. It takes time and patience.
3. Once you have your holes in both ends take a long needle (I use a doll making needle) and pierce the york. Gently cover both ends where the holes are with your fingers and very gently shake the egg to loosen the insides.
4. Now it's time for the FUN part. Hold the egg in between both hands and with your mouth start blowing through the hole (one on top is usually the best one to use) Keep blowing until you feel confident that all the insides are outside. This takes a lot of breath...kinda like trying to blow up that stubborn balloon that just doesn't want to be blown up. TIP: You can try using a 3cc syringe without the needle.
(but what fun would that be...I so love turning pretty shades of red, purple and blue)
5. Once you feel that all the insides are outside then it's time to give this little egg a bath. Squirt or run
COLD water into the egg. Why cold you ask.....remember that egg is a protein and if you put hot water in then you just cooked whatever remaining insides where left. That could be the cause of one stinky egg in time.. PeeU!! You need to do the "Bath" several times. Fill it up with cold water....place fingers over the holes and gently shake...then blow out the water the same way you did in step #4.
(you might not like turning all the pretty colors and used the 3cc....WHIMP...no just kidding...any way is good)
6. After a bath what do we do....we dry off and little egg is no different. The original way I learned was to place the eggs back in the egg carton (with large holes placed in the bottom of each cup) and let them sit and drain for 2-3 days in a warm place. With today's newest technology we have a faster way...LOL!! You can do this new fangled way two different ways. A) place egg in the microwave on several paper towels for 15-30 seconds or B) you can bake them in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. I crumple reynolds wrap up around each egg so they don't roll around. Cooking in the oven I believe makes them much stronger.
7. Once the egg has cooled down to room temp I cover in SoBo glue or Decoupage and let dry overnight. This helps strengthen and seal up any small cracks that may be in the egg. Make sure you poke a needle through the top so you will have a place to put the ribbon for hanging. (if you want to make an ornamental one...you can also make or buy a pretty egg holder to place the decorated egg in if you don't want a hanging one but you will need to keep the top hole open until the end)
8. Once the egg has sat overnight you are ready to decorate. This can be done any many ways. Paper napkins...yes I said paper napkins. Ever been to a tea or party and the napkin was almost to pretty to use, well those work great. You cut out the designs on the napkin and you have a pretty piece to apply to your egg. Tissue paper is another great item. You can cut it or hand tear it to make your designs. Tissue paper in a solid color works great too by crinkling it up and then placing on egg...kinda gives it that crackled effect. Another great source is this little tiny box you are sitting in front of and reading my blog on.....yes..your computer. There are some wonderful free vintage sites you can go to, find some really great images to print out and use. Just make sure that it's alright to do that....most of the free sites I have found do not mind as long as it is for your use and some don't mind what you do with them. Just ask if you have any doubts. Like my Great Grandmother use to say "
If there is ANY doubt...then there is NO doubt".
9. Now that you have your design all figured out it's time to decorate your egg. I LOVE to use decoupage,it's a great glue and sealer at the same time. I like to draw an egg on paper the size of my actual egg and place my design out on it.....if you are familiar with decoupage then you know it dries fairly quickly. Take your image and cover the back in the decoupage or glue (just make sure it dries clear) and place on your egg. Gently smooth with your finger to remove any air bubbles. If using tissue paper I usually gently pat the paper down. Do this step with each image you want on the egg. Let it sit and dry for about 30 minutes. Once dry, cover the entire egg in the decoupage or glue and let dry overnight. (This might be one good reason to keep that one hole on top so you have means to hang egg so it can dry even) Now for the really fun step but only if you want to add some "Bling" to your egg. You can do several different things.....you can a)put glitter in just certain places...highlight an area and make it POP....or b)cover the whole thing in glitter or German glass. For both all you have to do is cover the area in the decoupage or glue, sprinkle the glitter and then let it sit overnight to dry.
Now...I hope that my "simple" tips will help you try this wonderful craft. Now it's time to let you go and try for yourself. Have fun....use your imagination and let those eggs become a lasting keepsake!!!! I would love to see what yours look like if you do try this....I'll show you mine if you show me yours ^_^
Until next time.....
Hugs,
Regi
